How workers die. Trench Collapse, falls, machinery, forklift, explosion, rabies from bat bite, electrocution, shootings, vehicle incidents. On average, over 100 workers are killed every week in the United States due to traumatic injuries suffered at work. More than 20 times as many die from occupational diseases, many due to exposure to hazardous substances many years before they died. The few narratives below (gathered from almost 100 Google News searches) do not come close to capturing the full toll that work takes on the working people of this country. Nevertheless the accounts below gave you a taste of the preventable carnage occurring in workplaces across the country every day. P.S: Not a good week to be working in Georgia.
City Worker Killed in trench collapse at Rome construction site
ROME, Ga. – One worker is dead and another is hospitalized after they were nearly buried alive overnight while working on a water line in Rome. Rome Fire responded to the scene on Coosawattee Avenue and Shorter Avenue near the Circle K around 11 p.m. Thursday. According to officers with the Rome Police Department, the two Water Department employees were working on a water line near the road. Police say the workers got into a hole and dirt and asphalt collapsed on them. The Rome Fire Department called on other surrounding agencies to help with the rescue effort. “While our crews were on-route, we were advised there was a trench collapse. The battalion chief requested search and rescue to respond,” Rome Fire Department Division Chief Jamie Stone said. “When we got on scene we realized we had two patients trapped in a trench.” Fire crews were able to pull both men out and rush them to a local hospital. Tragically, the Floyd County Coroner’s Office said one of the workers has died from their injuries. He has been identified as 55-year-old James Rayburn. The other victim, identified as Michael Walters, is in Atrium Health Facility with a leg injury
Two Dead In Port Of Catoosa Industrial Accident
Tulsa, OK — An industrial accident at the Port of Catoosa has left two people dead. Co-workevrs, family, and friends are heartbroken over the deaths of two men who were working at a business in the Port of Catoosa. The two men were employed by Sooner Coating. When employees arrived at work, they discovered the situation and immediately called 911. First responders received initial reports of someone being trapped, but upon arrival, they learned there was no one to rescue. While the specifics of the event are still unclear, Andy Little from the Tulsa Fire Department reported that the two men were pinned under a large sheet of metal during the overnight shift. He confirmed that these men were the only employees working at Sooner Coating at the time.
Worker Killed In Lower Bucks Co. Industrial Accident
LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA —An industrial accident has claimed the life of a Bristol Borough resident early Monday morning, Falls Township Police said. The Falls Township Police Department responded at 1:15 a.m. Monday to Kinder Morgan, South Port Road, Morrisville, to investigate an industrial accident that just occurred. Police said its preliminary investigation determined that a Bryan Mena, 26, employed by Kinder Morgan, sustained fatal injuries after having been struck by a digging bucket that was excavating sugar from the hull of a docked ship.
St. Johns deputies, firefighters respond to deadly ‘industrial accident’ in St. Augustine
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — An industrial accident turned deadly in St. Augustine Monday morning. According to St. Johns County Fire Rescue, they got a call around 10:40 a.m. to Traffic Material Supplier, LLC. on Industrial Drive. That’s off I-95 and State Road 16. On Monday afternoon. St. Johns County Fire Rescue and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said it’s still unclear how the 18-year-old worker. He has been identified by police as Cooper Lyles, who worked as a plant operator. Naff did say there are no signs of possible negligence right now. “There’s also safety procedures put in place by OSHA and other governing bodies, so I’m sure they were following it, everything went down, and this is just a tragic accident that happened this morning,” Naff added
NJ Worker Dies In Ladder, HVAC Accident In PA
Norwegian Township, PA — A 66-year-old New Jersey man died in a work-related accident involving a ladder and an HVAC unit at Kings Village in Norwegian Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania State Police announced. The incident occurred at a Family Dollar store located at 44 Kings Village at 11:09 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, police said. Troopers from the Schuylkill Haven Patrol Unit responded and confirmed the death of the Paulsboro resident, who was employed by EEC Acquisition LLC, doing business as Rite Air Mechanical. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation into the fatality to determine if workplace safety violations contributed to the incident, according to public records. Authorities have classified the death as accidental, though the investigation by PSP and OSHA is ongoing.
Man dies at Monroe County sawmill after being hit by timber,
FORSYTH, Ga. — A man is dead after a workplace accident at Southern Forest Industries in Monroe County, according to a press release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. They say it happened at around 12 p.m. on Thursday. A man in his mid-to-late 40s was looking over a rail when a piece of timber struck him, Coroner Joey Proctor said.
California teacher dies after suspected bat bite in her classroom
Dos Palos, CA – A middle school teacher from central California has died after contracting rabies from a suspected bat bite, local health officials said. Friends identified the victim as Leah Seneng, 60, an artist and art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos. “We ask for privacy for her family during this difficult time and thank you in advance for any donations,” reads a GoFundMe campaign set up to cover Seneng’s funeral expenses. “Every little bit helps.” The victim’s death was reported last Tuesday. The Fresno County Department of Public Health confirmed the victim was exposed to rabies in Merced County. Seneng’s friend, Laura Splotch, told local TV station KSFN that Seneng had found a bat in her classroom in mid-October and was bitten after she picked it up to move it outside. “She didn’t wanna harm it,” said Splotch. “But that’s when I guess it woke up or saw the light or whatever. It swooped around a bit, and it took off.” Seneng didn’t initially experience any symptoms, Splotch said, but she fell seriously ill about a month later. Her daughter took her to the hospital on Nov. 18, where she was placed into a coma. She died four days later.
1 person dead following commercial forklift accident in Georgia
Perry, GA — Officials in Georgia are investigating after a deadly incident involving a commercial forklift. According to the Perry Police Department, officers and firefighters responded Tuesday around 3:30 p.m. to Woodlands Boulevard and Highway 127. Authorities say the victim was accidentally struck by a commercial forklift. They suffered serious injuries, were taken to a nearby hospital and died from their injuries. Their identity has not been publicly released. The Perry Police Department and investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
1 dead, 12 hurt in construction explosion at hospital west of Waco
GATESVILLE, Texas — One construction worker was killed and a dozen others were injured after an explosion at an addition to a Texas hospital Tuesday, authorities said. Bob Harrell, the Coryell County emergency manager, said all of those killed or injured were construction workers and not hospital staff or patients. The incident was reported about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at a construction site at the 25-bed hospital in Gatesville, 36 miles west of Waco. Witnesses said an electric generator inside an uncompleted hospital expansion exploded, spreading shrapnel. However, Dave Byrom, the hospital’s chief executive, said the blast possibly started with a gas line. The explosion caused part of the construction project to collapse, Harrell said.
Investigation underway after construction worker fatally struck in Bell
BELL, Calif. (KABC) — An investigation was underway following the death of a construction worker in the city of Bell Saturday morning. The incident happened just before 3 a.m. near Gage and Heliotrope avenues, according to the Bell Police Department. Authorities say the worker was fatally struck by a construction vehicle while they were working on the roadway. On Monday, the man was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner as Jose Arias Barrientos, 57, of Los Angeles. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dump truck driver killed in crash with train in Hillsborough County
RUSKIN, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough Fire Rescue responded to multiple 911 calls reporting an explosion and heavy smoke near the train tracks on Old Highway 41 in Ruskin. The incident happened early Tuesday afternoon. At the scene the crew confirmed a crash involving a train and a dump truck, which ignited small bush fires in to multiple train cars and the surrounding area. Fortunately, no hazardous materials were involved. The driver of the dump truck has died, according to an HCFR release.
McDonald’s employee shot and killed in East St. Louis
EAST ST. LOUIS, Il. – An employee of McDonald’s in East St. Louis was shot and killed while on the job this week. “It feels like a cloud over our community,” said Pastor Zachary Lee. Zachary Lee, senior pastor at Mount Paran Missionary Baptist Church in East St. Louis, says the recent murder of a young woman at the city’s McDonald’s is demoralizing to him and his community. Police say a victim was shot multiple times at the McDonald’s drive-thru Monday evening. The victim, 23-year-old Dionna Samuel, an employee at the restaurant, died at SLU Hospital that night.
Worker dies after fall from machinery at C-43 Reservoir site in LaBelle
LaBelle, FL — A man died early Tuesday morning after falling off machinery he was working on at the South Florida Water Management District’s (SFWMD) C-43 Reservoir in LaBelle. The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office says the man fell while working on machinery around 3:30 in the morning at a construction site on Congen Road. Deputies and first responders confirmed the man died on the scene. SFWMD said they’re investigating, and detectives believe this was an accident. The man’s name has not been released, but his employer, Phillips & Jordan – the head contractors for the project – said he worked for them.
Department of Labor investigating workplace death in New Hanover County
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A death is under investigation after a body was found Thursday afternoon when authorities were responding to a fuel leak at American Property Experts on Sunnyvale Drive. At 3:54 p.m., the Wilmington Fire Department (WFD), EMS, and Wilmington Police Department (WPD) responded to the business to handle a small diesel fuel leak that was caused by some equipment. A person was pronounced dead at the scene. Wilmington Police is not investigating the death because it was determined to be non-criminal. In a statement, the N.C. Department of Labor said, “The N.C. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division has opened an inspection into this fatality.”
50-year-old Harris Co. deputy dies when vehicle hits him on Grand Parkway
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A Harris County sheriff’s deputy has died after he was hit and killed on the Grand Parkway while responding to a crash on Tuesday, according to authorities. The deputy was assisting at the crash scene along Highway 99 and Cumberland when he was run over, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on X. Gonzalez said the deputy had been seriously injured and flown to the hospital, where he later died. The deputy was identified by the sheriff’s office as 50-year-old John H. Coddou, who had served with HCSO since 2003.
Mother of slain Lyft driver asks for help in finding killer
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – A family is asking for your help as police search for the person or people who shot and killed a Lyft driver. Someone gunned down Rafeeq Badee in the 1300 block of Woodberry Place in DeKalb County. His family believes a passenger shot him. His mom is in agony. “I’m not doing good at all,” said Lagina Living. “I’m trying to stay as sane as I can. It’s hard.” Living tells FOX 5 someone shot and killed her son, Rafeeq, who was working as a Lyft driver. “He was picking up a passenger,” Living said. Police confirm a victim at that location suffered several gunshot wounds. “He was shot at least three times. It sounds like an attempted robbery,” Living said. Rafeeq died hours later. “It’s like the rug has been ripped from under my feet,” Living said.
Cahokia Heights employee shot while working
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, IL — A Cahokia Heights employee was shot multiple times while he was on the job working, police said. Detective Michael A. Baxton said police received a call in reference to the shooting on Franklin Street near Robert L. Price Road at 10 a.m. Wednesday. When police officers arrived, they located the wounded victim, whose name was not released. He was taken to an area hospital, Baxton said. There was no immediate information available pertaining to the victim’s medical condition. Baxton did not know a motive for the shooting. He would only say that is part of the police investigation that is underway. Baxton confirmed the victim was working when he was shot but he didn’t release information about what department he was working in as an employee of Cahokia Heights.
Driver of Kroger delivery van dead after crash in Darke Co
Darke County, OH — One person is dead after a crash in Darke County Thursday morning. Darke County deputies and medics were called to the crash at North Alternate State Route 49 and Hollansburg-Sampson Road around 9:15 a.m. An initial investigation found that a Kroger delivery van driven by Brian Owens, 53, of Dayton was traveling eastbound on Hollansburg-Sampson Road when Owens failed to stop at a stop sign, according to a media release. Owens traveled into the intersection hitting a semi-trailer driven by Adam Cordy, 28, of Anna, Ohio. The semi traveled off the right side of the road hitting a utility pole causing power lines to fall to the ground. Owens’ semi-trailer came to rest in a ditch. Cordy was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released. Owens died from his injuries at the scene.
One person dead in Waukesha industrial accident
WAUKESHA, Wis. — An employee of Prolec-GE Waukesha was found dead on top of a transformer multiple feet in the air Saturday afternoon, according to police. City of Waukesha police and fire departments responded to Prolec-GE Waukesha Inc. for a report of an industrial incident just after 2:30 p.m. First responders then discovered an unresponsive employee on top of the transformer. Police say despite all lifesaving efforts, the employee was pronounced deceased on the scene. “The safety and well-being of our community members is our top priority, and we are deeply saddened by this tragic loss. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased,” city of Waukesha police said in a statement. Police say an investigation is underway and Prolec-GE is fully cooperating. Police also say initial facts have revealed electricity contributed to the person’s death.
Shoplifter leads to Jacksonville beauty store employee being run over and killed
Jacksonville, FL — A Jacksonville beauty supply store employee died after she was run over while attempting to confront a suspected shoplifter in the parking lot outside the Southside business Friday evening. The victim was struck about 6 p.m. outside the Beauty Max at 11900 Atlantic Blvd. in Kernan Village shopping center by a sport utility vehicle occupied by at least three people, Sgt. Steve Rudlaff of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit said during a media briefing. The woman, whose name and age were not released, was pronounced dead after being rushed to Memorial Hospital, Rudlaff said.
Crossing guard dies after being struck by vehicle near Burlington City High School
Burlington City, NJ — A crossing guard in the Burlington City School District has died after he was struck by a vehicle Friday morning near Burlington City High School, Burlington police said. n an update Friday night, police identified the crossing guard as 74-year-old Bruce Morlack of Burlington City. Investigators said Morlack heroically took action by preventing the two students he was helping cross the road from being injured when he was struck by a 2015 Chrysler 200.
Truck driver killed by own vehicle in Nanuet accident while working to fix malfunction
Abany, NY — An Albany man was killed Thursday in Nanuet after he was crushed by his own truck while attempting to fix a mechanical issue. Clarkstown Police Det. Norm Peters said Khurram Shahzad, 44, of Albany, was driving a 1994 Grumman food truck westbound on Prospect Street in Nanuet around 3 p.m. when his truck experienced a mechanical issue and stalled near S. Lexow Avenue. Peters said Shahzad placed the truck in park, exited the vehicle and asked a friend, who was following the malfunctioning truck in another vehicle, to assist him with backing the truck up onto a side street. The friend entered the truck and placed it into neutral. Shahzad positioned himself behind the truck to help the driver, an unnamed 39-year-old male, but the truck’s brakes failed, and Shahzad was struck around 3:05 p.m. Shahzad sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash. The 39-year-old driver remained on the scene and cooperated with first responders as Clarkstown Police, Nanuet Community Ambulance Corps and Rockland Paramedics attempted to administer life-saving aid to Shahzad. The victim was transported to Montefiore Nyack Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
A man is dead after a workplace accident at Southern Forest Industries in Monroe County
Monroe County, GA — They say it happened at around 12 p.m. on Thursday. A man in his mid-to-late 40s was looking over a rail when a piece of timber struck him, Coroner Joey Proctor said. He says the timber was coming off of a conveyor when it struck the man. Proctor says he was pronounced dead on the scene. He says that they’re not sure why the man was looking over the rail, but whatever happened, he was. His body was taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur where they are awaiting an autopsy. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says that they are not sharing the name of the victim at the time. This is a developing story. They say the accident is still under investigation.
Teen dies in crash while delivering for Doordash so she could buy Christmas presents
OAK HARBOR, Wash. (Gray News) – A 15-year-old girl in Washington state died in a crash while delivering for Doordash so she could buy Christmas presents for her friends and family. According to the Washington State Patrol, 15-year-old Grace Horn lost control of the car and crossed into the opposite lanes, leaving the roadway and hitting a pole on Dec 2. Officials said Grace was pronounced dead at the scene. At the time, her parents thought she was safe in bed for the night, however, the 15-year-old had other plans. According to a GoFundMe page, Grace had decided to complete some Doordash orders to make money for her Christmas presents. “Unfortunately, those early hours of Dec. 2nd were filled with an abnormal amount of low visibility for this area,” Christine Messmer, the fundraising organizer said.
2 dead, including man pushing car off highway, in I-78 crash
UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. – A truck driver and a motorist pushing his damaged car off the highway died early Monday on Interstate 78 in a crash that closed a portion of the road for hours, the Lehigh County coroner said. It happened at 4:44 a.m. in the eastbound lanes at mile marker 61.6, between the Route 145 and Hellertown exits. Two tractor-trailers were involved in the crash, as well as the damaged vehicle, according to the coroner. The pedestrian who died was among three people pushing a Toyota Sienna from the right lane, according to state police. That victim, who was struck by a tractor-trailer, has yet to be identified. The truck driver killed was identified as Nicholas James Bolotine, 30, of East Cocalico Township. Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio said Bolotine’s rig struck another tractor-trailer. Both men died of multiple blunt force injuries, according to the coroner’s office. Buglio ruled the manner of death in both cases as accidental.
North Texas police officer fatally shot on-duty, suspect in custody
TERRELL, Texas — A Terrell Police Officer was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop and the suspect who allegedly shot him is in police custody, the department said. Officer Jacob Candanoza, 28, conducted a traffic stop and requested a cover unit around 11 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 in the 1600 block of S. State Highway 34, Mary Hauger, a spokesperson for the department said in a press conference Monday. Shortly after, the department received two 911 calls stating an officer was shot, Hauger said. As officers arrived on the scene, which was near a Super 8 motel, they confirmed Candanoza was shot, according to a press release from the department. He was taken to a hospital where he died, police said.
Juvenile Arrested in Crash Killing Guard in Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay, CA — Just before midnight, the California Highway Patrol responded to a vehicle versus guard shack that in the Town of Discovery Bay killing one person and injuring two others. The crash occurred at Balfour Road at Bixler at 11:58 pm Friday where according to Chase Jeffrey of the CHP, a solo vehicle crashed into a guard shack in front of a gated community. A guard who was in the guard shack died while two other people were injured which were the driver of the vehicle (a solo occupant) and the other was a guard that was on duty. “The second guard was in the guard shack, and he is deceased,” explained Jeffrey who said Contra Costa County Fire Protection District firefighters pronounced at scene. The suspect driver was a juvenile (either 16 or 17 years old) and the car was registered in Discovery Bay in the Lake Shore area and its unknown where the driver was coming or going from. The deceased was described as an older Hispanic male.
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